The Senate has recently passed bipartisan legislation to establish additional judgeships on federal district courts throughout the United States, marking the first time in decades that Congress has taken such action. The bill, known as the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act of 2024, received unanimous approval in the Senate and is now awaiting consideration in the House.
If signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Judges Act of 2024 will create 63 permanent and three temporary judgeships on federal trial courts. This move represents a significant step forward, as the last time Congress added district court judgeships was in the 1990s. The bill aims to address the backlog of cases in the judicial system by implementing recommendations from the 2023 Judicial Conference of the United States.
Senators Todd Young and Chris Coons, the co-sponsors of the bill, stressed the importance of ensuring access to justice for all Americans. They highlighted the impact of the shortage of judges on the justice system and expressed hope that the new legislation would help alleviate this issue. The bill also includes provisions to improve access to justice in underserved regions and introduces transparency measures.
While some senators initially had concerns about adding more judgeships, the bill ultimately received unanimous support in the Senate. The measure will gradually create new judgeships over two presidential terms, following recommendations from the Judicial Conference. The plan is to add a total of 66 judges in 25 districts across 13 states, with three temporary judgeships in Oklahoma.
The establishment of additional judgeships is expected to enhance the efficiency of the judicial system and provide better access to justice for all Americans. The bill outlines a systematic approach to creating new judgeships, with additions scheduled to take place in five phases through 2035. Currently, there are 677 authorized district court seats and 10 temporary ones in the judiciary. Can you please rephrase that?
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